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Thousand-Armed Chenresi, a Cosmic Form of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A large Buddhist painting depicting Thousand-Armed Chenresi, a Cosmic Form of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. The central figure has one face with a serene expression. The figure sits on a lotus throne with a red and gold mandorla behind. The figure has 1000 arms, although some are obscured, and wears jewelry including earrings and necklaces. The figure's body fades into multiple arms that radiate from the body. The figure wears a crown and a red dhoti. The background is dark blue with a red border. The border contains 52 smaller images of seated Buddhist figures. The painting is on a beige background, likely the edges of the piece of fabric it is painted on.

Artwork Details

Date
14th century
Medium
Distemper and gold on cloth
Culture
Tibet
Dimensions
522 × 625 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette